Protection the Mental Health of Children during the COVID-19

 Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahimi

According to the information provided by different news agencies, about 60 million people are infected with coronavirus in the world and this number is increasing.

. Research shows that the effectiveness of how we communicate about life-threatening illnesses has a long-term impact on parents and children’s psychological and physical wellbeing.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some parents and a physician about the negative impact of the COVID-19 on children.

A child, Saifullah, a resident of Paktika province says, “When the coronavirus transferred for the first time to Afghanistan, I was afraid that this virus might infect my parents or my brothers and sisters and they might die.”

Ilham, a resident of Maidan-Wardak says, “I am 15 years old and I am an eighth-grade student. My parents are enough old and when I go to school, I always think about them and I think if they infect with coronavirus, as they are very weak, they might die and I bad dream at the night.”

A psychiatrist, doctor Khoshal Tawfiq says, “If the coronavirus spread increases,  and the dread of the children continues, the children might face crucial psychological problems such as depression and some other diseases. They might not sleep at night; they would face irregular heartbeat and they might hate everything. They might lose their appetite and lose weight too.”

 What do some people think about the causes of this issue?

A child says, “I have heard that coronavirus is a contagious disease and transmits from an infected person to a healthy one. Once I dreamt that my father is infected with coronavirus and he has died of it and I was very sad that I was left alone.”

Another child says, “I heard from the people that coronavirus is a fatal disease and if someone infects with it, he would die so that I am always thinking about my parents.”

How could teachers and parents mentally protect children during the COVID-19?

A man, a resident of Paktia province says, “I have four nieces and nephews. We do not talk about coronavirus in front of them at home and we have provided them toys and they are always busy playing.”

Rona, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, “I have four children I always try to keep them from watching television because most news is about coronavirus.

I have prepared a timetable for them. Sometimes they study their school lessons and sometimes I also play with them to prevent them not to think about the spread of coronavirus. Once they infected with coronavirus but I did not inform them of their infection with this virus and now they all are fine and they are in good mood.”